JUst to reply to Libby's thoughts about my original comments (and welcome to
the list, btw). I agree it's a sad statement about terrorism becoming the
terrorists raison d'etre, but then I did say I was pessimistic. There is
cause for some optimism, as others have pointed out, but there always seems
to be a moving of goalposts to allow the violence to continue (I am thinking
of Northern Ireland particularly here). The IRA get involved in the peace
process, as do their loyalist counterparts, but then the Real IRA splinter
off demanding things happen quicker or in a different way. Presumably if
they were persuaded to engage in democracy there is a "Realer Still" IRA
waiting in the wings, consisting of those for whom violence has become a way
of life. I know that's a sad statement, too, but that's my natural pessimism
coming through again, I guess. As an Englishman, I just wish we hadn't gone
there in the first place all those hundreds of years ago.......
Cheers,
Nick T
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